After contouring the back, the next step was to fit the back to the sides. Unlike the top bracing which is notched through the sides, the back bracing will only be notched into the kerfing, and will lay inside the sides.
First I laid the back in place, ensuring that it was centered to the sides and in its correct position. Then I marked the location of each back brace.
First I laid the back in place, ensuring that it was centered to the sides and in its correct position. Then I marked the location of each back brace.
Then using a long ruler, I connected each mark I made with a line. This marked the location of each notch I would have to make into the kerfing.
The drawing I'm working from shows the back braces being around 3 mm thick at their ends, so I marked out a depth of 3 mm on each notch.
I removed the material for each notch very carefully using an Exacto knife.
Then I laid the back onto the sides again, and marked each back brace where it needed to be trimmed in order to fit into the notches in the sides. I tried to trim each brace to the matching radius of the sides to create a nice tight fit.
Here's a picture of the back with all of the back braces trimmed. I also had to use a chisel to thin a couple of the braces to the 3 mm I mentioned earlier. You will notice I also chiseled out some of the back center strip in order for the back to fit to the tail and neck blocks.
I worked slowly and carefully until the back fit nice and snug into the sides. It took me 3 or 4 hours to complete this, but my efforts paid seemed to pay off!
I worked slowly and carefully until the back fit nice and snug into the sides. It took me 3 or 4 hours to complete this, but my efforts paid seemed to pay off!
The back fit very well, but there's still a slight gap at the tail block, which means I don't have the tail block contoured quite right yet. A little more sanding should do the trick though.
At the neck block I have a bit of a gap too, but a little more sanding should take care of this as well. This will be the next thing I do. Once the back is fitting perfect, I will sand all the braces a little so they look nice and neat, then it will be time to glue the top and back to the sides. Now THAT is exciting!!!